Work Towards Your Future with the Career & Co-op Centre
Everyone has been asked what they want to be when they grow up since a young age. It was fun answering that question when I was little, but now it’s a bit stress-inducing. I’m heading into my final year of Creative Industries, and I still don’t have a concrete answer for that question! Luckily, our university’s Career & Co-op Centre is here to help students with all their job and career queries throughout their university years and beyond. I had a virtual chat with Wincy Li, who is the Senior Manager of Career Education at the Career & Co-op Centre, to learn more about the Centre and its services.
The vision of the Career & Co-op Centre is to “help students build careers for life” — Wincy leaves the definition of career to the students themselves. Wincy and her team work to make sure that students are well prepared for job and career searches, while also working with faculty to support them if they have career information to incorporate into their curriculum. When it comes to helping students, it could mean helping them get a job after graduation, getting a part-time or Career Boost job, as well as a co-op or internship position. They help “students wherever they are on their journey, and support them in the way they need to be supported."
The Career & Co-op Centre can help with anything from job search strategies, to how to prepare a resumé cover letter, to discussing possible career paths. I used their resumé and cover letter review services while searching for a summer internship, and found it incredibly helpful. They also hold events to “help connect students directly to opportunities, such as employer events, job fairs and information sessions.” There are also a number of co-op programs that the Career & Co-op Centre administers to help students get paid, hands-on experiential learning opportunities.
Wincy said that when people think of the Career & Co-op Centre it’s typically in their later years of university, but says that “career development is something you learn throughout your life.” She encourages students to engage with the Centre beginning in their first year if they’re looking for that support or resources that they offer or just to learn about their options for the future.
If you’re a first-year student looking for an on-campus job, Wincy highly recommends checking out the Career Boost program (opens in new window) (and so do I!). Career Boost is our university’s work-study program that offers part-time jobs to our students. There’s a Career Boost program for domestic undergraduate students, graduate and law school students, as well as a program for international undergraduate and graduate students. These jobs are available across campus and “have concrete learning outcomes, a good amount of responsibilities and are a great experience for students to have.” She also encourages students to talk to their professors or check out other locations on or around campus for any opportunities they may be interested in. I have been a Career Boost student throughout my whole undergraduate career, and have loved the opportunities working on campus has given me. I always recommend that my friends and future students check out Career Boost for on-campus jobs.
Wincy’s favourite thing about working in the Career & Co-op Centre is seeing “the range of career goals that our students pursue.” She said “my job is never boring because the goals are never boring.” Wincy also enjoys seeing the progression of students who use the services from an early point in their university years and says “it’s very fulfilling to witness that learning and growth.
A general piece of advice Wincy has for students is to pace themselves when exploring all the services our university offers. There are many and it can be overwhelming, but she suggests picking one service to focus on at a time, exploring it and figure out whether or not it’s for you. If it’s not what you’re looking for, keep it in mind and explore it at another time.
The Career & Co-op Centre has most of their services and information available on their website, which serves as their “one-stop shop”, complete with an events calendar and information around appointment booking for a one-on-one appointment with them. They also send out newsletters to students through our university’s faculties.
With so many great resources for students, I highly recommend that you take advantage of them throughout your university years!
